38 research outputs found
The relative age effect on physical fitness in preschool children
The aim of the present study was to investigate the existence of a relative age effect (RAE) on physical fitness of preschoolers. Anthropometry and physical fitness were assessed in 3147 children (3â5 years old) using the PREFIT battery. Based on the birth year, participants were divided into 3year groups (3-, 4- and 5-years). Within each year group, 4quarter groups were created: quarter 1, preschoolers born from January to March; quarter 2, from April to June; quarter 3, from July to September; quarter 4, from October to December. The MANCOVA analysis revealed a main effect of year group (Wilksâ λ = 0.383; F10,5996 = 369.64; p < 0.001, ηp 2 = 0.381) and of quarter (Wilksâ λ = 0.874; F15,8276.6 = 27.67; p < 0.001; ηp 2 = 0.044) over the whole battery of tests. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the existence of RAE at the preschool stage. In general, performance improved as the relative age increased (i.e., those born in quarter 1 performed better than those in the other quarters). Individualization strategies should be addressed within the same academic year not only in elementary or secondary years but also in preschoolers
Clinical characteristics of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Spain: Results from the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry
Background: Spain has been one of the countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: To create a registry of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Spain, in order to improve our knowledge of the clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic aspects of this disease. Methods: A multicentre retrospective cohort study, including consecutive patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 throughout Spain. Epidemiological and clinical data, additional tests at admission and at seven days, treatments administered, and progress at 30 days of hospitalization were collected from electronic medical records. Results: Up to June 30th 2020, 15,111 patients from 150 hospitals were included. Their median age was 69.4 years (range: 18-102 years) and 57.2% were male. Prevalences of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus were 50.9%, 39.7%, and 19.4%, respectively. The most frequent symptoms were fever (84.2%) and cough (73.5%). High values of ferritin (73.5%), lactate dehydrogenase (73.9%), and D-dimer (63.8%), as well as lymphopenia (52.8%), were frequent. The most used antiviral drugs were hydroxychloroquine (85.6%) and lopinavir/ritonavir (61.4%); 33.1% developed respiratory distress. Overall mortality rate was 21.0%, with a marked increase with age (50-59 years: 4.7%, 60-69 years: 10.5%, 70-79 years: 26.9%, â„ 80 years: 46.0%). Conclusions: The SEMI-COVID-19 Network provides data on the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Spain. Patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Spain are mostly severe cases, as one in three patients developed respiratory distress and one in five patients died. These findings confirm a close relationship between advanced age and mortality.Antecedentes: España ha sido uno de los paĂses mĂĄs afectados por la pandemia de COVID-19.Objetivo: Crear un registro de pacientes hospitalizados en España por COVID-19 para mejorar nuestro conocimiento sobre los aspectos clĂnicos, diagnĂłsticos, terapĂ©uticos y pronĂłsticos de esta enfermedad. MĂ©todos: Estudio de cohorte retrospectiva, multicĂ©ntrico, que incluye pacientes consecutivos hospitalizados con COVID-19 confirmada en toda España. Se obtuvieron los datos epidemiolĂłgicos y clĂnicos, las pruebas complementarias al ingreso y a los 7 dĂas de la admisiĂłn, los tratamientos administrados y la evoluciĂłn a los 30 dĂas de hospitalizaciĂłn de las historias clĂnicas electrĂłnicas. Resultados: Hasta el 30 de junio de 2020 se incluyeron 15.111 pacientes de 150 hospitales. Su mediana de edad fue 69,4 años (rango: 18-102 años) y el 57,2% eran hombres. Las prevalencias de hipertensiĂłn, dislipemia y diabetes mellitus fueron 50,9%, 39,7% y 19,4%, respectivamente.Los sĂntomas mĂĄs frecuentes fueron fiebre (84,2%) y tos (73,5%). Fueron frecuentes los valores elevados de ferritina (73,5%), lactato deshidrogenasa (73,9%) y dĂmero D (63,8%), asĂ como lalinfopenia (52,8%). Los fĂĄrmacos antivirales mĂĄs utilizados fueron la hidroxicloroquina (85,6%)y el lopinavir/ritonavir (61,4%). El 33,1% desarrollĂł distrĂ©s respiratorio. La tasa de mortalidad global fue del 21,0%, con un marcado incremento con la edad (50-59 años: 4,7%; 60-69 años:10,5%; 70-79 años: 26,9%; â„ 80 años: 46%).Conclusiones: El Registro SEMI-COVID-19 proporciona informaciĂłn sobre las caracterĂsticas clĂnicas de los pacientes con COVID-19 hospitalizados en España. Los pacientes con COVID-19 hospitalizados en España son en su mayorĂa casos graves, ya que uno de cada 3 pacientes desarrollĂł distrĂ©s respiratorio y uno de cada 5 pacientes falleciĂł. Nuestros datos confirman una estrecha relaciĂłn entre la edad avanzada y la mortalidadLa Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna (SEMI) es la patrocinadora de este estudio
Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.
In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field
Physical fitness reference standards in European children: the IDEFICS study
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A low fitness status during childhood and adolescence is associated with important health-related
outcomes, such as increased future risk for obesity and cardiovascular diseases, impaired skeletal health, reduced quality of life and
poor mental health. Fitness reference values for adolescents from different countries have been published, but there is a scarcity of
reference values for pre-pubertal children in Europe, using harmonised measures of fitness in the literature. The IDEFICS study offers
a good opportunity to establish normative values of a large set of fitness components from eight European countries using
common and well-standardised methods in a large sample of children. Therefore, the aim of this study is to report sex- and
age-specific fitness reference standards in European children.
SUBJECTS/METHODS: Children (10 302) aged 6â10.9 years (50.7% girls) were examined. The test battery included: the flamingo
balance test, back-saver sit-and-reach test (flexibility), handgrip strength test, standing long jump test (lower-limb explosive
strength) and 40-m sprint test (speed). Moreover, cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed by a 20-m shuttle run test. Percentile curves
for the 1st, 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 97th and 99th percentiles were calculated using the General Additive Model for
Location Scale and Shape (GAMLSS).
RESULTS: Our results show that boys performed better than girls in speed, lower- and upper-limb strength and cardiorespiratory
fitness, and girls performed better in balance and flexibility. Older children performed better than younger children, except for
cardiorespiratory fitness in boys and flexibility in girls.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide for the first time sex- and age-specific physical fitness reference standards in European children
aged 6â10.9 years.European Union (EU)
016181VolkswagenSpanish Government
RYC-2011-09011VR (research council in Sweden)FORTE (research council in Sweden)FORMAS (research council in Sweden
Longer breastfeeding is associated with increased lower body explosive strength during adolescence
Our aim in this study was to examine the association between breastfeeding duration and cardiorespiratory fitness, isometric strength, and explosive strength during adolescence. A total of 2567 adolescents (1426 girls) from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) cross-sectional study aged 12.5-17.5 y were included. Information about duration of any and exclusive breastfeeding was obtained retrospectively by means of a parental questionnaire. The 20-m shuttle run, handgrip strength, and standing long jump tests were used to assess physical fitness. Significant differences among the categories of breastfeeding duration were tested using ANCOVA after adjusting for a set of potential confounders: gestational and current age, birth weight, sexual maturation, fat mass, fat-free mass, maternal education, parental weight status, country, smoking behavior, and days of vigorous physical activity. Longer breastfeeding (either any or exclusive) was associated with a higher performance in the standing long jump test in both boys and girls (P = 6 mo, the risk of having a standing long jump performance below the 5th percentile was reduced by half compared with those who were never breastfed (odds ratio (OR) = 0.54, 95% Cl = 0.30-0.96, P < 0.05; and OR = 0.40, 95% Cl = 0.22-0.74, P < 0.01, respectively). These findings suggest a role of breastfeeding in determining lower body explosive strength during adolescence. J. Nutr. 140: 1989-1995, 2010